Here’s a list of benefits, why hydrotherapy

Water is one of the oldest and safest methods for healing. It can be used for acute conditions and can also help restore health in more chronic conditions. Water is a quick, easy, and inexpensive tool for healing that you will always have at your fingertips. Lily Bernard, Spa Manager, Clarks Exotica Convention Resort and Spa, Bengaluru, shares about Hydrotherapy, why and how.

GS: What is Hydrotherapy?

Lily: Hydrotherapy is defined as restoring, maintaining and regulating health by using water. Hydrotherapy is not just one exercise. There are many different treatments one can use when doing Hydrotherapy. Treatments can include but are not limited to hot or cold compresses, hot baths, high-powered jets, and steam rooms. For example, steam room treatments relieve water tension in the body by inducing sweat. Thus, sweating out any impurities the body may have at the time.

GS: How is it beneficial from other treatments?

Lily: During a hydrotherapy treatment, another health benefit is in the release of endorphins — the body’s natural hormones which give us a sense of wellbeing. Hydrotherapy is a proven treatment to lessen the pain associated with arthritis through elimination of the toxins causing the joint inflammation and pain.

Other than

• Reduces muscle tension and relieves pain.
• Rehabilitates injured muscles.
• Boosts the immune system.
• Encourages detoxification.
• Relieves stress.
• Hydrotherapy helps by cleansing the system.
• It also helps in keeping the body protected from external threats.
• Hydrotherapy can help those with a weakened heart recover.

GS: How is the hydrotherapy done, give us a basic understanding?  

Lily: Hydrotherapy is the use of water to maintain health or treat Hydrotherapy is often done at health centers, spas, or at home.  When used safely and carefully, many alternative treatments can make a wonderful addition to your health.

Types of Hydrotherapy Treatment.

• Whirlpool or Aquatic Therapy: This is a type of hydrotherapy that a physical therapist or aquatic therapist will provide.
• Contrast Bath: As the name suggests, this is using cold and hot water baths alternatively.
• Hydro-massage: Hydro-massage often uses high pressure jets.
• Massotherapies’
• Vichy showers etc.

GS: How effective is the hydrotherapy?

Lily: The warmth of the water allows your muscles to relax the pain in your joints, helping you to exercise. The water supports your weight, which helps to relieve pain and increase the range of movement of your joints. The water can be used provide resistance to moving your joints by pushing your arms and legs against the water, you can also improve your muscles strength.

GS: For which all medical conditions hydrotherapy is useful?

Lily: External hydrotherapy Treatment with moist heat is called fomentation, and is helpful for conditions such as flu, arthritis, or chest cold whereas cold compresses or ice packs help with headaches dental surgery, or sprains. Body packs are helpful for detoxification and to calm psychiatric patients.

Internal hydrotherapy includes colonic irrigation and enemas. Steam baths are a type of internal hydrotherapy. Colonic irrigation is an enema which is used for cleansing the entire bowel. It is believed to cure a number of digestive problems. Douching is another form of internal hydrotherapy, which directs a stream of water into the vagina for cleansing purposes.

Other than this Hydrotherapy useful for following medical condition. For pain relief, circulation, for immunity, stress, complexion, arthritis’s, back pain insomnia, Sciatica

GS: Few tips to keep in mind while going for hydrotherapy, safety, and precautions.

Lily: Hydrotherapy can also put on a risk of allergic reaction known as contact dermatitis for some patients using essential herbs and oils in their bath water.

Overheating is the most likely side effect of hydrotherapy, which can be very harmful. This may occur when an individual spends too much time in a hot tub or Jacuzzi.

Cold baths should not be used for the elderly people or young children. People suffering from heart diseases must avoid Sauna baths.